What’s more romantic than cruising the Italian and French Rivieras in total luxury? Your voyage begins in the capital city of Italy - Rome. A city filled with historic sites to be seen including the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, the Forum, St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps to name just a few. And while in Rome, they say you should ‘do as the Romans do’ – wander the sidestreets that open onto piazzas, fountains, sculptures and elegant courtyards, stop and enjoy a lunch, shop, people watch and savor the best gelati in the world!
Your next port is Livorno, a busy port city near Pisa that is graced with canals, a historic town center, a splendid coastline and some of the peninsula's best seafood. The city is also your gateway to beautiful Tuscany. La Spezia is a base for visiting the Cinque Terre and the Golfo dei Poeti, but it's worth spending a day wandering around this pleasant town and visiting its more notable sights. For naval enthusiasts, La Spezia's nautical heritage id a major attraction.
Then onto Portofino, considered by many yachtsmen to be the "world’s most beautiful small port." From the sea, the entrance to town is a narrow waterway, usually crowded with yachts and sailboats. Tall cliffs rise steeply above the port, dotted with expensive villas and an imposing castle. Along the waterfront, enjoy the restaurants with outdoor tables and colorful umbrellas that offer refuge to some of Europe’s wealthiest and most discerning pleasure-seekers.
Next on the itinerary - the fairy-tale kingdom of Monte Carlo that glitters with opulence and jet-set glamour like no other city on the Riviera. The action centers around its famed casinos. Inside, under gilt-edged ceilings and ornate frescoes, fortunes can be made or lost. Elsewhere in Monaco are the Prince’s Palace, from which the Grimaldi dynasty has ruled since 1297; the Cathedral where Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier; and the Rock of Monaco, where gardens cascade to the sea.
Small but chic, St. Tropez is a lively town whose beaches are legendary, both for their beauty and for the beauties on them. Follow the narrow lanes from the waterfront, and you’ll arrive at the oldest part of St. Tropez, where twisting narrow streets open onto tiny squares and fountains. Great views can be had from the 16th-century Citadel, but the most interesting views are from a chair in a sidewalk café: sit on the terrace and watch the fascinating, flirtatious French Riviera pass by.
Your journey ends in Nice, with its casual affluence, flower-lined streets, flourishing markets, and interesting museums (the Musée Chagall and Musée Matisse are highlights), Nice is a charming introduction to the spirit of the Côte d’Azur. Stroll along its wide sunny boulevards, broken here and there by shady gardens and parks. Or stop for bouillabaisse, a specialty of the area, in a local restaurant.